WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Tickets are Now on Sale at WeatherTechRaceway.com
Life is Better at the Track in 2023
MONTEREY, Calif., December 8, 2022—Ring in the New Year with tickets, VIP hospitality packages and camping for the premier race events at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca that are now on sale. Fresh off the heels of an exciting season, the 2023 calendar looks even brighter with more action, more teams and greater ticket package choices at WeatherTechRaceway.com.
“We are sprinting into 2023 with a new Start/Finish bridge, new track surface and an aggressive season that promises to be filled with entertainment and racing action,” explained John Narigi, president and general manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “Sponsors and series are lined up and ready, and now tickets for events are on sale. We also kept pricing competitive to reward repeat customers, and provide an enticement to attract new guests to experience the Laguna Seca Recreation Area.”
Kicking off the 2023 season is the thunder of Trans Am muscle cars like Ford Mustangs, Dodge Challengers, Chevrolet Camaros and Corvettes racing wheel-to-wheel in the Trans Am Speedfest. The series also includes their predecessor Trans-Am cars from the late ’60s and early ‘70s that wowed crowds in Monterey.
Immediately following is the return of America’s premier sports car racing series for the Motul Course de Monterey and the full field of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship groups, highlighted by the all-new GTP class that includes Acura, BMW, Cadillac and the all-new Porsche team.
July is motorcycle month in Monterey as the MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest of Monterey descends with its international riders seeking championship points among a family festive atmosphere. The next weekend sees classic motorcycles and sidecars at speed as the AHRMA Classic MotoFest of Monterey welcomes riders of all disciplines, including off road and flat track, as well as a full swap meet for those hard-to-find parts.
Keeping with the vintage theme, August in Monterey features the celebrated Monterey Pre-Reunion of historic race cars competing like they once did, which is a precursor to the internationally-recognized Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The Rolex Reunion features more than 400 historic and authentic race cars from around the world at speed making it a moving museum of automotive history. The week concludes with the second annual Corkscrew Hillclimb and Community Day that is a fun day of cars racing reverse course and finishing at the top of the Corkscrew, and complemented by live music, food and family experiences.
September turns serious and highly competitive as the season finale Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey crowns the NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion in hotly contested racing. An unprecedented five drivers were in the title hunt in 2022, creating a tension-filled weekend that spilled over into pure exhilaration for fans who personally experienced the action.
The 2023 season concludes with the largest Porsche celebration in the world: Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7. It occurs every three to five years and is the only place where visitors can experience legendary historic cars, meet legendary drivers who drove them to victory circle and explore row after row of amazing cars in a festive lifestyle atmosphere that includes music, food and all types of international exhibitors.
Plans are also in discussion for adding an additional new event in October.
2023 Season Schedule:
May 5-7 – Trans Am Speedfest
May 12-14 – Motul Course de Monterey (IMSA)
July 7-9 – MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest at Monterey
July 14-16 – AHRMA Classic MotoFest of Monterey
August 12-13 – Monterey Pre-Reunion
August 16-19 – Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
August 20 – Corkscrew Hillclimb & Community Day
September 8-10 – Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey (INDYCAR)
September 28-October 1 – Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7
Season and Family passes, as well as individuals event tickets, VIP hospitality packages, preferred parking, and camping make ideal Holiday gifts. All are now available online at WeatherTechRaceway.com or by calling the Tickets and Accommodations Specialists at 831-242-8200.
Award-Winning GSX-S1000GT/GT+ and Proven Boulevard Cruisers Return for the 2023 Suzuki Line-Up
Brea, CA (December 8, 2022) – Suzuki Motor USA proudly announces additional models to its 2023 product line with the award-winning high-performance sport-touring Suzuki GSX-S1000GT/GT+ models, plus iconic Boulevard models including the M109R B.O.S.S. muscle cruiser, and the classically styled C50T and C50 cruisers.
These popular motorcycles continue the momentum of exciting new 2023 models Suzuki launched over the last 12 months, including the sensational new V-STROM 1050DE and 800DE adventure tourers, as well as the dynamic new GSX-8S naked sportbike.
Highlighted by engineering excellence, impressive features, impeccable build quality, and attractive styling, these models continue Suzuki’s commitment to offering motorcycles with unparalleled performance and value, regardless of the segment.
2023 GSX-S1000GT/GT+
Key Features:
Ready to split the wind, the GT’s full fairing sets the standard for aerodynamics and rider wind protection in the sport-touring category. The dual mono-focus LED headlights and V-shaped LED position lights create a distinctive appearance and great illumination. With, or without the optional side cases (standard on the GT+) and optional touring windscreen in place, the GSX-S1000GT is the new grand touring performance standard in the sport touring category.
A large, 6.5 in TFT gauge panel that is easy to read in any light condition allows the rider to monitor and adjust many of the bike’s Suzuki Intelligent Ride Systems (S.I.R.S.) features. The panel also communicates with Suzuki’s mySPIN connectivity application that seamlessly links to a smartphone for easy access to contacts, maps, music, and phone communication.
Worldwide emissions-compliant, the 999cc, GSX-R-based long-stroke engine has impressive peak power, with strong, linear torque in the low- to mid-range all smoothly controlled by Ride-by-Wire electronic throttle bodies, for an extraordinary Grand Touring experience.
Upright ergonomics deliver superb control and comfort, while the twin-spar aluminum frame and fully adjustable KYB suspension deliver controlled handling. The ABS-equipped** Brembo Monobloc brake calipers with dual, floating brake rotors provide controlled stopping power.
The Suzuki Clutch Assist System (SCAS) smooths shifting and engine braking, while the standard Bi-directional Quick Shift system gives your clutch hand a rest. Right-hand comfort is increased with the hybrid throttle system and the precise electronic cruise control.
The Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (S.I.R.S.) includes the three-mode Suzuki Drive Mode Selector, the five-mode Advanced Traction Control* system, Bi-directional Quick Shift system, and the popular Easy Start and Low RPM Assist systems.
The GSX-S1000GT+ is adorned in a new Metallic Triton Blue or a Glass Sparkle Black that stands out of the crowd with its color matched side cases. The GSX-S1000GT continues for 2023 in Metallic Reflective Blue.
A 2023-model Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ with standard side cases. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, Inc.
The taut, muscular 2023 Suzuki M109R B.O.S.S. remains the performance cruiser other bikes envy. This M109R has a powerful V-twin engine with some of the largest pistons in the industry. The M109R B.O.S.S. is a bike whose performance will get the adrenaline flowing, no matter the ride.
This muscle cruiser’s 109 cubic-inch engine is wrapped with aggressive blacked-out styling with slash-cut mufflers, drag-style bars, a supplied solo seat cowl, and a distinctively shaped headlight nacelle that’s uniquely Suzuki.
The deep red and black or bright blue and black paint schemes draw attention away from everything else on the road. The M109R is not just about looks, as stout inverted forks, a hidden single-shock rear suspension, and an ideally designed saddle deliver responsive handling and an exceptionally comfortable ride. Hold on as the performance never looked so good, or so powerful.
Key Features:
Blacked Out Special Suzuki (B.O.S.S.) styling.
Sharp headlight nacelle mounted above the large diameter, inverted fork.
A 2023-model Suzuki Boulevard C50T. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, Inc.
2023 Suzuki Boulevard C50T
With the 2023 Suzuki Boulevard C50T, you will find yourself equally in command on city streets or out on the interstate. The C50T’s fuel-injected, fifty cubic-inch V-twin engine delivers abundant torque and is engineered for reliability and proven performance.
Its distinctive, bold styling and extensive list of features make this bike ideal for comfortable long-distance cruising. Tour-ready features include a spacious riding position, full coverage aerodynamic windscreen, and custom-made leather-texture, studded saddlebags that match the studded dual seats that deliver all-day rider and passenger comfort.
Key Features:
Tour-ready leather-texture saddlebags with chrome studs are designed as part of the bike, not as accessory add-ons.
A full coverage windscreen offers greater protection, and greatly minimizes wind buffeting.
Fifty cubic inch (805cc), fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, 45-degree, V-twin engine.
Smooth-shifting 5-speed transmission with shaft drive.
Buckhorn-style handlebars and studded seat feature a low seat height of 27.6 inches.
Wide whitewall tires on sparkling spoke wheels set off classic styling.
Pearl Brilliant White paint with subtle blue graphics blends well with the Boulevard’s classic styling, windscreen, studded leather-texture seats, and matching saddlebags.
The 2023 Suzuki Boulevard C50 turns heads wherever you rumble by. The Boulevard C50 stamps a bold impression on classic cruiser styling that includes a kicked-out fork, traditional valance-style fenders, and a staggered, chromed, dual exhaust system.
The C50’s fuel-injected, fifty cubic-inch, V-twin engine delivers loads of torque and is engineered for reliability and presence that other cruisers will wish they had. On city streets or the open highway, the C50’s spacious riding position and smooth suspension provide all-day cruising comfort, while its rear suspension delivers the appearance of a classic hardtail.
Key Features:
Bold heritage cruiser styling.
A fifty cubic-inch (805cc), fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, 45-degree V-twin engine.
Smooth-shifting 5-speed transmission with shaft drive.
Buckhorn-style handlebars and a low seat height of 27.6 inches.
Candy Daring Red or Solid Iron Gray paint with understated tank graphics augment the Boulevard’s classic posture.
A 2023-model Suzuki Boulevard C50. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, Inc.
With a comprehensive 12-month unlimited mileage limited warranty and longer coverage periods with other benefits available through Suzuki Extended Protection (SEP), these 2023 Suzukis may be personalized with a wide range of Genuine Suzuki Accessories available at Suzuki dealers. For more information, please visit SuzukiCycles.com.
Note: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION reserves the right to add any improvement to change the design or to discontinue any Suzuki Genuine Accessories at any time without notice. Some Suzuki Genuine Accessories might not be compatible with local standards or statutory requirements. Please check with your local AUTHORIZED SUZUKI DEALER for details at the time of ordering.
*The Traction Control System is not a substitute for the rider’s throttle control. It cannot prevent loss of traction due to excessive speed when the rider enters a turn and/or applies the brakes. Neither can it prevent the front wheel from losing grip.
**Depending on road surface conditions, such as wet, loose, or uneven roads, braking distance for an ABS-equipped vehicle may be longer than for a vehicle not equipped with ABS. ABS cannot prevent wheel skidding caused by braking while cornering. Please drive carefully and do not overly rely on ABS.
Campioni in Piazza²: the program of the party that on December 15 will celebrate Ducati’s double World Title in Bologna has been presented
Claudio Domenicali and Matteo Lepore presented the Campioni in Piazza² event, scheduled for 15 December in Bologna
Among the protagonists of the Ducati celebrations are the World Champion riders Francesco Bagnaia and Alvaro Bautista
Numerous artists and personalities will take the stage in Piazza Maggiore: J-Ax, Giuseppe Giacobazzi, Guido Meda, Federico Poggipollini, Luca Ward
Bologna, Italy, 7 December 2022 – Just over one week remains before Campioni in Piazza²: the event in the heart of Bologna, free and open to all enthusiasts, which on 15 December will colour Piazza Maggiore red. It will be a great occasion to relive and celebrate together the unforgettable sporting season that has just ended and the extraordinary victories obtained by Ducati in the MotoGP and World Superbike championships.
The official program of the event was presented during a press conference held in the splendid setting of Palazzo D’Accursio, one of the most beautiful places in Piazza Maggiore as well as the seat of the Municipality of Bologna.
Claudio Domenicali, Ducati CEO and Matteo Lepore, Mayor of Bologna , took part in the conference to illustrate the program of the event and the participation of the territory in the celebrations, which will see Italian names and personalities friends of Ducati and of the city of Bologna on stage.
Claudio Domenicali, Ducati CEO: “After the double victory in the MotoGP and Superbike championships, we could only celebrate in style with an event open to all fans. Campioni in Piazza² will be above all a moment of celebration and sharing. The decision to hold the event in Bologna came very naturally, this is the city where Ducati was born and the link with the local area is a great added value for us. We are sure that all the citizens of Bologna, and beyond, will want to join us in celebrating the goals achieved by a company that has its roots here but is a proud ambassador of Made in Italy in the world.”
Matteo Lepore, Mayor of Bologna: “Celebrating together with Ducati the titles won in MotoGP and World Superbike in Piazza Maggiore is very important for Bologna. Our city will once again be in the spotlight for an event that combines a world-renowned brand with music and entertainment. This is why we want to celebrate together these important milestones achieved by Ducati.”
The party on Thursday 15 December will involve first of all the undisputed stars of the 2022 bike racing season: Francesco Bagnaia and Alvaro Bautista. On stage there will also be the “behind the scenes” figures that fans have come to know live from the Ducati pits: Luigi Dall’Igna, Paolo Ciabatti, Davide Tardozzi and Serafino Foti.
Barbara Pedrotti, journalist, TV presenter and great motorsport enthusiast, will be introducing and interviewing the personalities of the world of Ducati Corse, together with Guido Meda , the unmistakable voice who, race after race, narrated Bagnaia’s success in MotoGP on Italian TV.
The program will not be lacking in moments of entertainment either, with jokes from the Romagnolo and passionate Ducatista Giuseppe Giacobazzi. The actor and voice actor Luca Ward will accompany the participants on a journey through the history of Ducati. The musical entertainment opens with a DJ-set by Fresco, a DJ and record producer known for his collaborations with Italian singer Jovanotti, to then move on to the guitar notes of Bologna native musician Federico Poggipollini. The evening will conclude with a concert by J-Ax; the Italian rapper, who has just announced his participation in the 2023 Sanremo Festival, will make the audience dance to a medley of his most famous songs.
To celebrate this great milestone, Ducati has prepared a surprise for the most passionate Ducatisti, which will be unveiled directly from the stage in Piazza Maggiore.
The event is free and open to all enthusiasts who want to celebrate together with Ducati. The stage entertainment will start at 8.00pm and conclude at approximately 10.30pm. A spectacular fireworks display will bring the show to an end.
For everyone who wants to immerse themselves in the Ducati world, on the day of the party the visits to the Borgo Panigale factory will be intensified, with sessions starting every 15 minutes between 9.15 and 11.30 and between 1.45pm and 4.00pm. To ensure a place for the visit at the desired time, it is recommended to book and purchase the ticket online at https://tickets.ducati.com/. The Ducati Museum will be open as usual from 9.00 to 18.00.
Round 3 of the CVMA 2022/2023 Winter Series kicked off under overcast skies, cool weather and a fast race track. On Friday, a group of five riders graduated from the new racer school and received their CVMA licenses. CVMA changed the schedule for this round. Saturday morning featured two qualifying sessions instead of one practice session and one qualifying session. This gave riders a second shot to set their gird position with a fast lap. The change had the added benefit of saving some time in a busy Saturday race schedule — important during the short winter daylight hours.
On Friday, a group of five riders graduated from the new racer school and received their CVMA license.
During qualifying on Saturday, Owen Williams was the fastest on an Ultra Lightweight bike, turning a 1:54.436 lap time. Justin Bordonaro went quickest on a Lightweight class bike with a 1:52.536. Torin Collins set the Middleweight bike benchmark with a 1:48.738. And, fastest of all, was Corey Alexander with a 1:44.785 lap time on an Open class bike.
Saturday
Quinn Swift broke the lap record in the Formula 40 Ultra Lightweight class with a 1:56.524. Other standouts on Saturday included Williams winning three races riding both Middleweight and Ultra Lightweight bikes. Bordonaro, David “Aussie Dave” Anthony, and Nayden Balladares all won two races each.
Sunday
On Sunday, the premier race of the day started under sunny skies and exceptionally warm weather. In the Stock 1000 Shootout, Anthony got the holeshot followed by Alexander and “The Prince” Bryce Prince. At the start of lap three, Alexander was able to out drive Anthony coming out of the last turn and make a pass for the lead at the end of the front straight entering the first corner. Anthony retook the lead on lap five. The two ran nose-to-tail for the remainder of the race but Alexander was never able to challenge for the lead again. The final result was Anthony for the win, Alexander in second, and Prince in third.
In the Formula Lightweight Twins Shootout, Cody Wyman was first into Turn 17 followed by Bordonaro and Jonathan “Crafty” Glaefke. Unfortunately, the race was red-flagged on the first lap. At the restart, Glaefke got the holeshot but was quickly passed by Wyman. Bordonaro slotted into second. The running order at the end of the first lap was Wyman, Bordonaro, and Glaefke. Bordonaro passed Wyman onto the front straight to make a pass for the lead on lap four. Unfortunately, Bordonaro crashed in Turn 9, a.k.a. “Crash Corner,” a short time later, handing it back to Wyman. The final result was Wyman first followed by Glaefke and then Gio Alvarez. As a consolation, Bordonaro set a new lap record for the class turning a 1:50.662 lap time.
The Formula Ultra Lightweight Shootout started with Quinn Swift getting the holeshot. By the end of the first lap, Kreece Elliott had taken the lead with Williams and Swift following. Williams took the lead on lap two and proceeded to check out. Swift made the pass for second on lap four and that set the finishing order. Williams took the win with Swift in second and Elliott rounding out the podium.
In the Supersport Middleweight Shootout, David Kohlstaedt took the lead at the beginning and was never challenged. Collins, returning to race with CVMA after a long absence, ran a lonely second place the entire race. Behind Collins, a battle for the final spot on the podium raged between Jeff “The Tiger” Tigert and Williams. Tigert ran the first five laps in front of Williams. Toward the end of the fifth lap, Williams made a brave pass for third position entering Turn Three on the brakes. Williams and Tigert ran nose-to-tail for the remainder of the race, but Tigert was unable to find a way past Williams. The final result was Kohlstaedt for the win, Collins second, and Williams third.
The next round will be the weekend of January 21-22, 2023.
CVMA offers two full days of racing every race weekend and also includes Saturday qualifying for grid position in all classes, amateur and expert, as well as a wide variety of classes to choose from.
CVMA offers free reciprocity as a means of encouraging racers from other clubs to come out and compete. CVMA also offers a New Racers School for those starting out in racing on the Friday prior to each race weekend. Log on to www.cvmaracing.com to sign up or for more information.
CVMA. Built for racers by racers and offering the best racing experience around!
Series Sponsors: SoCal Track Days, Apex Assassins, Ryder Gear, and CaliPhotography
NRS Sponsors: Alpinestars, 6D Helmets, Racer Gloves, and Racer’s Edge
*Note: when running the course counter-clockwise the corner numbers are referred to as they are when running clockwise.
Luca Marini set the fastest time at the traditional post-season MotoGP test at Circuito Ricardo Tormo, clicking off a 1:30.032 lap toward the end of a day that saw most of the MotoGP teams trying out new equipment for 2023 in an attempt to prevent a repeat of the Ducati dominance of 2022.
On his Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati GP21, Marini went fastest on the 70th of the 76 laps he turned around the 2.5-mile circuit in Cheste near Valencia, and he was faster than he had gone in qualifying for the race. It was not a complete shock, as the track was well rubbered-in from three days of racing and a full morning of testing, and Marini had no new components to evaluate. The team simply focused on optimizing its racebikes from the previous weekend and gave Marini seat time.
Miguel Oliveira (88) was the fastest of the riders who jumped on a different machine at the Valencia test, finishing the day fourth-fastest on his satellite RNF MotoGP Team Aprilia RS-GP. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Marini was 0.225-second quicker than Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales, who edged Marini’s teammate Marco Bezzecchi by another 0.005-second. Fourth-quickest was Miguel Oliveira, the fastest of those riders who had switched manufacturers for 2023, who put on a soft rear tire and blazed to a 1:30.367 right at the end of his track time.
2020 World Champion Joan Mir (36) and new Moto2 World Champion Augusto Fernandez (37) acclimated to their new machines, the factory Repsol Honda RC213V and the Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing bike. The GASGAS is a rebranded KTM RC16. Photo by Michael Gougis.
The regulations for MotoGP are essentially unchanged for 2023. The biggest change is that front “shape-shifting” hydraulics are banned, although launch-control devices remain legal. And that means little in the way of revolutionary ideas, at least in the machines shown at Valencia. Instead, teams, factories, and riders are refining existing components and configurations, looking for the smallest of improvements.
There were lots of refined components in evidence, as the aero wars continued unabated among all of the factories. Honda, KTM, and Yamaha also were evaluating entirely new and major components in an attempt to address their shortcomings. What they found, however, was not entirely what they were looking for, leaving engineers lots of work to do before the next test in Sepang.
Jorge Martin (89) tested a new fairing lower design (the camouflaged section) for Ducati. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Ducati tested new aero components, including a narrower fairing upper and a smooth, bulged fairing lower that did away with the radical ducting that removes air from the forward lower section of the fairing and displaces it into the centerline of the vehicle below the belly pan. The fairing lower, an interpretation of a design introduced by Aprilia mid-season, was seen first on Johann Zarco’s Prima Pramac satellite machine, but was also tested by 2022 MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia.
With the stunning performance of the GP22 and updated GP21 machines throughout the season, Ducati brought out little else for the first test. But aero has become utterly critical in contemporary MotoGP, and the right design affects not just overall performance but the rider’s ability to operate the machine. Over the race weekend prior to the test, Jorge Martin was asked what had contributed to his recent uptick in form–Martin had just earned his third pole position in a row–and he gave credit to a revised fairing that made the bike easier to turn.
Alex Marquez (73) was only 15th and 0.680 second off the pace on his first day on the Gresini Ducati. But after a season of being battered by Honda’s troubled RC213V, Marquez was all smiles after 73 laps on the Desmosedici. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Ducati absolutely ruled the top speed category during the test. Bagnaia was fastest, his bike reaching 335.4 kph (208.407 mph) in the speed traps at the end of the straight. That’s impressive, given that the turn leading onto the straight is a tight left-hander. Five other Ducati riders–Marini, Bezzecchi, Enea Bastianini, Zarco and Alex Marquez–were tied for second fastest at 332.1 kph (206.357 mph), matched only by Marc Marquez on his Honda RC213V.
Honda had high hopes for a revised chassis, but at the end of the day Repsol Honda Team Manager Alberto Puig and Marquez were less than impressed. Honda had started 2022 with a new chassis aimed at increasing rear grip and acceleration, but it had come at the expense of front-end feel, especially under braking. Despite the new, latest chassis he tried, Marquez said he was still looking for more feel at the end of the braking zone–the exact same thing he said at the post-season test in Valencia in 2019. “We expected a bigger step,” Puig said.
Marc Marquez tested new aero packages and swingarms on his Repsol Honda RC213V. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Honda engineers threw a wide range of aero components onto the brand’s racebikes, with rear stabilization fins, lower aero ducting and revised front wings in an array of configurations for Marquez, new recruits Joan Mir and Valencia race winner Alex Rins and Takaaki Nakagami, retained by LCR Honda for 2023.
Honda immediately put new recruit Alex Rins (42) to work, having him test new aero pieces aboard his LCR Honda RC213V. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Marquez finished the test with a best lap at 1:30.676, 13th-quickest, and he turned 50 laps, fewer than any other rider except for Ducati test rider Michele Pirro. And when Marquez was done, he told reporters gathered in the media center that the package that he had ridden was not good enough to him to fight for the title in 2023.
Yamaha’s top-speed woes had convinced the factory to bring in a Formula One engine expert to overhaul its Inline-4, which will be the only engine with that configuration on the grid in 2023. While early tests had proven promising, 2021 MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo was deeply unhappy to find that the development engine delivered no more top speed than his race engine from 2022 had produced.
The Yamaha prototype, complete with new-spec engine, failed to perform to expectations, leaving 2021 MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo frustrated. Photo by Michael Gougis.
During his post-test media interview, Quartararo kept staring over the heads of journalists at a monitor hanging from the ceiling that showed top speeds from the day on the track, pointing out that his Yamaha was only 12th-fastest down the straight, and that teammate Franco Morbidelli’s machine was even slower. It was not a huge gap to the front of the pack — the difference was only 8 kph to Bagnaia — but in MotoGP today, differences in qualifying and final positions are measured in fractions of a second, and the lack of speed and acceleration has made it very difficult for the Yamaha riders to overtake or protect their positions from other riders, especially those on the rapid Ducatis. Quartararo was fastest of the Yamaha riders in ninth, his fastest lap a 1:30.578, 0.546-second off the top spot.
Yamaha also brought out a new chassis for Quartararo and Morbidelli, as well as a range of new side fairing elements and rear stabilization fins. While Morbidelli liked the new chassis, Quartararo said it felt different but made no real impact on lap times, which was his assessment of the new aero components as well.
KTM introduced its module concept of testing — an attempt to allow engineers to change individual components without impacting the way other elements of the bike behaved. It makes sense: One of the first rules of testing is to change only one thing at a time. But it was clear that KTM’s chassis development, a little like that of Honda, seemed to be stuck in a zero-sum equation.
New KTM factory rider Jack Miller (43) leads new LCR Honda rider Alex Rins (42) as they adapted to their new machines in Valencia. Miller finished the day 17th, Rins 20th. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Brad Binder said over the weekend that he had been asking all season for a chassis that gave him more rear grip, and his racebike on Sunday gave him exactly that. But that improvement came at the expense of front-end stability, and he had to wait until the fuel load went down before he could start charging toward the front — a charge that came up just short of a win. Binder tried a new chassis on Tuesday, praised the feel at the front again and said the grip at the rear was lacking again.
Pol Espargaro at speed on a GASGAS/KTM MotoGP prototype. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Binder was the quickest on a KTM, with a 1:30.496 slotting him into seventh place, with new factory teammate Jack Miller 17th with a 1:30.787. Pol Espargaro and Moto2 World Champion Augusto Fernandez took their new GASGAS Tech3 machines — rebranded KTM RC16s — to 16th and 22nd, respectively.
Aprilia’s main focus was on its new signing — the RNF MotoGP team — which wheeled its Yamaha YZR-M1s out of the garage on Sunday and rolled in a pair of the new Aprilia RS-GP racebikes that it will use for 2023. The team, which will field Raul Fernandez alongside Oliveira, will start with the same machinery spec that factory riders Aleix Espargaro and Vinales used at the end of 2022.
Not only was Oliveira quick and comfortable, but Vinales was second and Espargaro fifth — encouraging speed for a manufacturer that, after running at the front of the field for most of 2022, absolutely imploded over the last five races of the season.
MIE Racing Honda Team announces Eric Granado for the 2023 WorldSBK season
The MIE Racing Honda Team is pleased to announce that it has signed Eric Granado as its rider for the 2023 Superbike World Championship aboard the CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE.
26-year old Granado has recently concluded his best ever season in the MotoE World Championship, finishing as series runner-up after amassing five wins and fighting for the title until the last race in San Marino. To date, his remarkable racing achievements include four titles in the Brazilian SBK Championship as well as world championship seasons in Moto2 (2012), Moto3 (2013, 2014) and the FIM CEV Repsol series, where he won the Moto2 European Championship title in 2017.
Next year the talented Brazilian will fight on two fronts, taking part in both the MotoE World Championship and the Superbike World Championship.
The MIE Honda Racing Team bids farewell to Leandro “Tati” Mercado, thanking him for all his efforts and wishing him the best for his future endeavors.
Midori Moriwaki
“I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Eric to the MIE Racing Honda Team. We had the chance to work with Eric when he joined the team for the final round of the 2020 WorldSBK championship season in Estoril. He finished top 15 in race 1 and close to the points zone in race 2 which was really impressive. His talent, speed, professionalism, and not least his sunny attitude are key values for me, and I think he will be a perfect fit for the MIE Racing Honda Team structure. A structure that will also be strengthened in terms of its technical and managerial staff in order to ensure continual growth and improvement. I also want to heartily thank Tati for two amazing years together, for his hard work and total commitment to the team. We wish him all the best for his future.”
Eric Granado
“I am very happy to take on my first WorldSBK season in 2023. Firstly, I would like to thank Midori, Honda and all the sponsors for giving me this opportunity. It has long been my goal to make it to World Superbike. I have won four Brazilian Superbike championships and raced in the Spanish SBK Championship over the last two seasons. It’s a category I know, although the world championship operates at a much higher level obviously. I competed with the MIE Racing Honda Team in 2020, at the Portuguese round, and I really enjoyed it. I liked seeing how everyone worked and Midori made me feel really welcome in the team. We talked about trying to work together and now we will do just that. I think it’s a great opportunity for me and my career, and I’m very confident that we will have a competitive bike and can work together with Honda to improve the machine. It will be a real challenge, battling with fast, world-level riders but I will try to learn a lot from them and do my best to achieve solid results each weekend so that I can arrive at the end of the season knowing I have done a good job. I hope the Brazilian fans will support me; it has been so many years since a Brazilian rider raced in the world championship and I hope to represent my country at its best. I want to thank everyone for their support, and now I can’t wait to get on my Honda and start working.”
More, from another press release issued by MIE Racing Honda Team:
The MIE Racing Honda Team reconfirms Hafizh Syahrin to complete its 2023 line-up
Hafizh Syahrin (left) with MIE Racing Honda Team owner Midori Moriwaki (right). Photo courtesy MIE Racing Honda Team.
After announcing the signing of Brazilian rider Eric Granado, the MIE Racing Honda Team is pleased to confirm that it has extended its agreement with Malaysian rider Hafizh Syahrin.
The 2022 season saw Syahrin debut with the team, and in the WorldSBK category. The 28-year old finished in the points in four races and ended the season on the up in terms of both his performance and consistency.
The MIE Racing Honda Team thus completes its line-up for the 2023 Superbike World Championship season with two talented and fast riders who are both more than ready for action when the season kicks off in Australia on February 24-26.
“I am extremely pleased to announce the contract extension with Hafizh who made his debut with us in World Superbike and has grown steadily throughout the season”, said team owner Midori Moriwaki. “I think that he and Eric (Granado) will form a strong and competitive pairing and will help us to both develop our project with Honda in the category and promote the WorldSBK Championship and motorcycling in South America and Asia, two extremely strategic regions for our sport.”
“I’m very happy to stay with the MIE Racing Honda Team again next season”, Hafizh Syahrin added. “I know that Midori (Moriwaki) is putting together a stronger package for 2023 while I will focus on giving all that I can, building on last year’s experience and aiming to finish in the points at every race. My primary target is to be more competitive and I’m ready to work hard to achieve that.”
The ASRA/CCS 2022 Season Finale event took place at Homestead-Miami Speedway as the premier race event for the organization’s new owners. Much of the existing schedule remained intact with a few adjustments, including the addition of “Dash For Cash” races paying down to fifth place. New to the series, an online registration process was implemented for the final round and included paperless tech and contingency forms. Live, online grid, timing, and results features were added to the www.asra.com website and an app for mobile devices is expected to be in place for the start of the 2023 season.
The weekend schedule started with perfect weather and three practice groups on track Saturday morning until lunch break, with three 25-minute GT races kicking off the afternoon schedule of racing, followed by five seven-lap sprint races. The Sunday schedule also included several rounds of practice until the lunch break with the remaining thirteen seven-lap sprint races with the cash-paying GP classes concluding the action-packed weekend.
Alex Arango was the winningest racer of the weekend with six first-place finishes, which included wins in both the Unlimited GP and 300 GP Dash for Cash classes. Arango was an early leader in all of his races during the event and the hotly contested Unlimited GP was no exception. Arango led the first lap of the race with Eric Wood and Gabriel DaSilva in hot pursuit. The top three each held down the front spot as they continued to battle for the checkered flag for all seven laps of the race. DaSilva’s lead was thwarted by a false neutral and Arango was able to reclaim the front spot to take the final victory of the day with the top three finishing the race in the same order as lap one.
The event brought all three of the Silva brothers together to compete and even finish the GTU with all three on the podium. Lucas Silva finished first with Fernando Silva second, and Bruno Silva in third. Lucas Silva took home the cash for this class, and Edward Sulliva was the fourth Dash for Cash winner with his first-place finish in the Lightweight GP race.
The newly reformed ASRA/CCS will move forward with additional changes being implemented off season to include new classes that reflect FIM class structures, fully digital race registration, mobile check-in and contingency reporting, social media support for real-time access to grids, results, and other information. The first race of the 2023 season is scheduled to take place at Carolina Motorsports Park April 15-16th, 2023 for the Atlantic, Florida, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast regions, and will include the AMA Sanctioned ASRA Team Challenge Series Presented by Michelin Tires.
Full race results are available online at: https://www.asraracing.com/results/. Additional information about the series including the 2023 season schedule, press releases, series updates, and rider profiles will be available on the new website at: www.asraracing.com.
Estenson Racing Announces 2023 American Flat Track Program
Young up-and-comer Tom Drane joins JD Beach, Dallas Daniels, and Trevor Brunner to contend for top honors in the Progressive American Flat Track series
MARIETTA, Ga. – December 5, 2022 – Estenson Racing is happy to announce their continued partnership with Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS) and a talented four-rider lineup for the 2023 Progressive American Flat Track season. Multi-time road race champion JD Beach and two-time AFT Singles Champion Dallas Daniels return to fight for the title in the Mission SuperTwins Championship. Also returning with the team next year is Trevor Brunner who will be joined by new signee Tom Drane for a two-pronged threat in the AFT Singles class.
Beach enters his fifth season with Estenson Racing and looks to build on their breakthrough 2022 season with the Yamaha MT-07. The Owensboro rider was a championship contender, taking home four wins and a total of eight podiums. Unfortunately, he was injured in the final race of the season but still managed a fourth-place finish in the points standings. Beach also continued to be a force to be reckoned with on the TT tracks, sweeping both TTs this year to bring his career total to six TT wins since his first premier class victory during his debut season with the team in 2019.
On the heels of a stellar rookie season in the premier class, Daniels looks to build on his standout performance in 2022. The 2020 and 2021 AFT Singles Champion hit the ground running and was also a title contender in the competitive Mission SuperTwins Championship. He scored a pair of wins on the Mile tracks and stood on the podium seven times to finish third in the points standings. With a year under his belt, the 18-year-old looks to come out swinging in what will also be his fifth year with the Estenson Racing team.
Brunner returns in 2023 and looks to build on his debut season with the team and the YZ450F. The Indiana rider made progress throughout the year and hit his stride in the second half of the season, scoring a pair of wins and six podiums to earn fourth in the highly competitive AFT Singles Championship.
Drane joins the team next year for his first full season in American Flat Track. The 16-year-old Australian is one of the sport’s top up-and-coming riders, making an impressive AFT Singles debut last year at the Lima Half-Mile with a win in the dash for cash and a runner-up finish in the Main Event. He also won the dash at the Springfield Mile before the rest of the event’s program was rained out, and has multiple amateur dirt track titles to his resume in both the U.S. and Australia.
In addition to Yamaha Racing, the team would also like to thank its continued support from Monster Energy, WPS, FLY, Yamalube, ZO CBD, VortexEX, Motion Pro, and Hinson.
Jim Roach – Yamaha Racing Department Manager for YMUS
“Yamaha Racing is excited to continue our support of Estenson Racing in both the American Flat Track SuperTwins and AFT Singles classes. Estenson Racing has won multiple titles in the Singles class, and 2022 was filled with race wins and podiums in the SuperTwins class. Through the continued hard work and development by Estenson Racing, they have transformed their team into a championship contender in both the SuperTwins and Singles classes. We look forward to the start of the racing season.”
Tommy Hayden – Estenson Racing Team Manager
“I am really excited to announce our renewal with Yamaha and would like to thank them for their continued support, belief in our program, and stepping up for us for in 2023. I am very proud of our riders and the entire crew for the progress we made this year but we know there are many areas we are capable of improving in and that is what we are pushing towards this off-season.
“It is also very exciting for us to be adding Tom to our team for 2023 and to be able to watch his progress as a full-time AFT rider. To have JD, Dallas and Trevor all returning and the addition of Tom, I am confident that we have all the talent we need to reach our goals next season.”
JD Beach. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
JD Beach – Estenson Racing Mission SuperTwins
“After the season we had in 2022, I’m really excited to be back with the team. Going into next season we will be on the same bike and I’ll have the same crew. This will be the first time since I joined the team that we will have the same combo going into the next season. The progress we made this year was what we’ve been working so hard for, so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do next season with some groundwork already made. I’ve got some big goals for this new season. Ending last year with a broken ankle wasn’t ideal so I’m looking forward to putting in the work this winter and coming out in March stronger than ever.”
Dallas Daniels (center). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Dallas Daniels – Estenson Racing Mission SuperTwins
“I’m very excited for the 2023 season. My rookie year in the SuperTwins class was awesome. I was able to learn so much about the bikes, the tracks, and the competition, so I’m going to carry that knowledge into 2023 and do the best I can. I’m just extremely grateful for this opportunity that Tim, Tommy, and the whole Estenson Racing team have given me to race at the premier level of American Flat Track.”
Trevor Brunner. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Trevor Brunner – Estenson Racing AFT Singles
“I’m really looking forward to the 2023 season with Estenson Racing. It was a tough year for me, but we were able to come together as a team by the end of this season and I’m confident that we can keep building and carrying that momentum through the new year. It’s also going to be awesome to have another teammate on the 450 side of the team to bounce ideas off of throughout the day.”
Tom Drane. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Tom Drane – Estenson Racing AFT Singles
“I am so excited to be joining the Estenson Yamaha racing team in 2023. It has been a dream of mine to be able to race professionally since starting my career and I am so grateful to be given such an opportunity at 16 years old. I feel like I can be competitive with such a high-level team behind me and I’m looking forward to what the year brings.“
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC) with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida), Kracor Systems (Wisconsin) and Siren Marine, Inc. (Rhode Island), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats (Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana).
DYNAVOLT TRIUMPH WELCOME HARRY TRUELOVE FOR WORLD SUPERSPORT 2023
Dynavolt Triumph are pleased to confirm that Harry Truelove will join the team for the 2023 FIM Supersport World Championship.
The 26-year-old British rider makes the step up to the world stage after a successful career in British Supersport where he ended the 2022 season on a high with third overall in the championship, securing ten podiums including a win across the season with Appleyard Macadam. Lincolnshire based Truelove made his WSS debut the same year as a wild-card at Donington Park and now joins the enormously experienced Dynavolt Triumph for a full-time campaign in the world championship.
Harry Truelove: “I am thrilled to be joining the Dynavolt Triumph team. Competing in the World Supersport championship has always been my dream and I am excited to make this dream a reality with Triumph. I want to thank Simon for trusting in me and giving me this incredible opportunity and all of my family for always cheering me on and supporting me all the way. I’m looking forward to this new challenge as I channel my efforts to prepare for the season ahead. I have full faith in myself and the team that we can achieve some great results together over the coming season.”
Dynavolt Triumph Team Manager Simon Buckmaster: “We’d like to welcome Harry to the team. I’ve watched him for a couple of years and last year of course we competed against him in the British championship. We had discussions last year with Harry and his family about riding for us and this year we spoke again. It’s good for us as a British team, with a British bike to have a British rider. Also, to bring this rider up from BSS I see as a good thing for British motorcycle sport that young riders see the progression from national championship to world championship. It’s good in a patriotic way for Britain. We have discussed it, we know it’s a big step up and there’s some hard work in front of him but we have some good guys around us, we’re a close-knit team, there’s almost a family atmosphere and we will create that environment for Harry to grow and be successful in World Supersport. Looking forward to testing and the start of the season.”
FIM Awards: 2022 World Champions rewarded in Rimini
The gala returns to toast the biggest winners on two wheels in 2022
Sunday, 04 December 2022
The FIM Awards took place at the Palacongressi Rimini – IEG Expo in 2022, gathering Champions from across different motorcycle disciplines to celebrate their achievements this season.
2022 FIM MotoGP™ World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) celebrated his first premier class title as he took to the stage, receiving his FIM medal after an incredible season.
Bagnaia was joined by 2022 Moto2™ World Champion Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as he ends the year on a high note ahead of a new adventure in MotoGP™ next season, and 2022 Moto3™ World Champion Izan Guevara (GASGAS Aspar Team) similarly signed off from the season in style before he moves into the intermediate class.
(From left) Moto2 World Champion Augusto Fernandez, MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia, and Moto3 World Champion Izan Guevara. Photo by Goodshoot, courtesy Dorna.
Others present included 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Champion Alvaro Bautista as he celebrated his WorldSBK title and represented another Ducati success, as well as 2022 Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™ Champion Jose Antonio Rueda. Rueda made history as the first rider to take that crown and win the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2022, and he’ll move into the Moto3™ World Championship next year.
The gala brings the curtain down on the final event on the calendar, with winter break underway and the countdown to the Shakedown Test very much on. MotoGP™ will be back in action in early February, so save the pre-season dates and get ready to enjoy another incredible season of competition. Who will return to the gala in 2022? We’ll start to find out soon!
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:
2022 Champions Bautista, Aegerter and Díaz take the stage in Rimini for the FIM Awards
2022 Superbike World Champion Alvaro Bautista. Photo by Goodshoot, courtesy Dorna.
Just a couple of weeks after the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship curtain closer in Australia, the newly crowned riders of all three classes were reunited in Rimini, Italy, for the FIM Awards ceremony.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed Ducati’s first Riders’ Championship since 2011, Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) took his second consecutive title in WorldSSP and Alvaro Diaz (Arco Motor University Team) became the sixth different rider to take the WorldSSP300 title after a record-breaking campaign.
All three gathered on Saturday night at the Palacongressi Rimini – IEG Expo in Rimini, where the newly re-elected FIM President Jorge Viegas acknowledged their achievements in 2022 alongside the other FIM World Champions.
Jake Gagne (1) leads the field down the Corkscrew at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in 2022. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Tickets are Now on Sale at WeatherTechRaceway.com
Life is Better at the Track in 2023
MONTEREY, Calif., December 8, 2022—Ring in the New Year with tickets, VIP hospitality packages and camping for the premier race events at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca that are now on sale. Fresh off the heels of an exciting season, the 2023 calendar looks even brighter with more action, more teams and greater ticket package choices at WeatherTechRaceway.com.
“We are sprinting into 2023 with a new Start/Finish bridge, new track surface and an aggressive season that promises to be filled with entertainment and racing action,” explained John Narigi, president and general manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “Sponsors and series are lined up and ready, and now tickets for events are on sale. We also kept pricing competitive to reward repeat customers, and provide an enticement to attract new guests to experience the Laguna Seca Recreation Area.”
Kicking off the 2023 season is the thunder of Trans Am muscle cars like Ford Mustangs, Dodge Challengers, Chevrolet Camaros and Corvettes racing wheel-to-wheel in the Trans Am Speedfest. The series also includes their predecessor Trans-Am cars from the late ’60s and early ‘70s that wowed crowds in Monterey.
Immediately following is the return of America’s premier sports car racing series for the Motul Course de Monterey and the full field of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship groups, highlighted by the all-new GTP class that includes Acura, BMW, Cadillac and the all-new Porsche team.
July is motorcycle month in Monterey as the MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest of Monterey descends with its international riders seeking championship points among a family festive atmosphere. The next weekend sees classic motorcycles and sidecars at speed as the AHRMA Classic MotoFest of Monterey welcomes riders of all disciplines, including off road and flat track, as well as a full swap meet for those hard-to-find parts.
Keeping with the vintage theme, August in Monterey features the celebrated Monterey Pre-Reunion of historic race cars competing like they once did, which is a precursor to the internationally-recognized Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The Rolex Reunion features more than 400 historic and authentic race cars from around the world at speed making it a moving museum of automotive history. The week concludes with the second annual Corkscrew Hillclimb and Community Day that is a fun day of cars racing reverse course and finishing at the top of the Corkscrew, and complemented by live music, food and family experiences.
September turns serious and highly competitive as the season finale Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey crowns the NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion in hotly contested racing. An unprecedented five drivers were in the title hunt in 2022, creating a tension-filled weekend that spilled over into pure exhilaration for fans who personally experienced the action.
The 2023 season concludes with the largest Porsche celebration in the world: Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7. It occurs every three to five years and is the only place where visitors can experience legendary historic cars, meet legendary drivers who drove them to victory circle and explore row after row of amazing cars in a festive lifestyle atmosphere that includes music, food and all types of international exhibitors.
Plans are also in discussion for adding an additional new event in October.
2023 Season Schedule:
May 5-7 – Trans Am Speedfest
May 12-14 – Motul Course de Monterey (IMSA)
July 7-9 – MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest at Monterey
July 14-16 – AHRMA Classic MotoFest of Monterey
August 12-13 – Monterey Pre-Reunion
August 16-19 – Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
August 20 – Corkscrew Hillclimb & Community Day
September 8-10 – Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey (INDYCAR)
September 28-October 1 – Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7
Season and Family passes, as well as individuals event tickets, VIP hospitality packages, preferred parking, and camping make ideal Holiday gifts. All are now available online at WeatherTechRaceway.com or by calling the Tickets and Accommodations Specialists at 831-242-8200.
A 2023-model Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ with standard side cases. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, Inc.
Award-Winning GSX-S1000GT/GT+ and Proven Boulevard Cruisers Return for the 2023 Suzuki Line-Up
Brea, CA (December 8, 2022) – Suzuki Motor USA proudly announces additional models to its 2023 product line with the award-winning high-performance sport-touring Suzuki GSX-S1000GT/GT+ models, plus iconic Boulevard models including the M109R B.O.S.S. muscle cruiser, and the classically styled C50T and C50 cruisers.
These popular motorcycles continue the momentum of exciting new 2023 models Suzuki launched over the last 12 months, including the sensational new V-STROM 1050DE and 800DE adventure tourers, as well as the dynamic new GSX-8S naked sportbike.
Highlighted by engineering excellence, impressive features, impeccable build quality, and attractive styling, these models continue Suzuki’s commitment to offering motorcycles with unparalleled performance and value, regardless of the segment.
2023 GSX-S1000GT/GT+
Key Features:
Ready to split the wind, the GT’s full fairing sets the standard for aerodynamics and rider wind protection in the sport-touring category. The dual mono-focus LED headlights and V-shaped LED position lights create a distinctive appearance and great illumination. With, or without the optional side cases (standard on the GT+) and optional touring windscreen in place, the GSX-S1000GT is the new grand touring performance standard in the sport touring category.
A large, 6.5 in TFT gauge panel that is easy to read in any light condition allows the rider to monitor and adjust many of the bike’s Suzuki Intelligent Ride Systems (S.I.R.S.) features. The panel also communicates with Suzuki’s mySPIN connectivity application that seamlessly links to a smartphone for easy access to contacts, maps, music, and phone communication.
Worldwide emissions-compliant, the 999cc, GSX-R-based long-stroke engine has impressive peak power, with strong, linear torque in the low- to mid-range all smoothly controlled by Ride-by-Wire electronic throttle bodies, for an extraordinary Grand Touring experience.
Upright ergonomics deliver superb control and comfort, while the twin-spar aluminum frame and fully adjustable KYB suspension deliver controlled handling. The ABS-equipped** Brembo Monobloc brake calipers with dual, floating brake rotors provide controlled stopping power.
The Suzuki Clutch Assist System (SCAS) smooths shifting and engine braking, while the standard Bi-directional Quick Shift system gives your clutch hand a rest. Right-hand comfort is increased with the hybrid throttle system and the precise electronic cruise control.
The Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (S.I.R.S.) includes the three-mode Suzuki Drive Mode Selector, the five-mode Advanced Traction Control* system, Bi-directional Quick Shift system, and the popular Easy Start and Low RPM Assist systems.
The GSX-S1000GT+ is adorned in a new Metallic Triton Blue or a Glass Sparkle Black that stands out of the crowd with its color matched side cases. The GSX-S1000GT continues for 2023 in Metallic Reflective Blue.
A 2023-model Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ with standard side cases. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, Inc.
The taut, muscular 2023 Suzuki M109R B.O.S.S. remains the performance cruiser other bikes envy. This M109R has a powerful V-twin engine with some of the largest pistons in the industry. The M109R B.O.S.S. is a bike whose performance will get the adrenaline flowing, no matter the ride.
This muscle cruiser’s 109 cubic-inch engine is wrapped with aggressive blacked-out styling with slash-cut mufflers, drag-style bars, a supplied solo seat cowl, and a distinctively shaped headlight nacelle that’s uniquely Suzuki.
The deep red and black or bright blue and black paint schemes draw attention away from everything else on the road. The M109R is not just about looks, as stout inverted forks, a hidden single-shock rear suspension, and an ideally designed saddle deliver responsive handling and an exceptionally comfortable ride. Hold on as the performance never looked so good, or so powerful.
Key Features:
Blacked Out Special Suzuki (B.O.S.S.) styling.
Sharp headlight nacelle mounted above the large diameter, inverted fork.
A 2023-model Suzuki Boulevard C50T. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, Inc.
2023 Suzuki Boulevard C50T
With the 2023 Suzuki Boulevard C50T, you will find yourself equally in command on city streets or out on the interstate. The C50T’s fuel-injected, fifty cubic-inch V-twin engine delivers abundant torque and is engineered for reliability and proven performance.
Its distinctive, bold styling and extensive list of features make this bike ideal for comfortable long-distance cruising. Tour-ready features include a spacious riding position, full coverage aerodynamic windscreen, and custom-made leather-texture, studded saddlebags that match the studded dual seats that deliver all-day rider and passenger comfort.
Key Features:
Tour-ready leather-texture saddlebags with chrome studs are designed as part of the bike, not as accessory add-ons.
A full coverage windscreen offers greater protection, and greatly minimizes wind buffeting.
Fifty cubic inch (805cc), fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, 45-degree, V-twin engine.
Smooth-shifting 5-speed transmission with shaft drive.
Buckhorn-style handlebars and studded seat feature a low seat height of 27.6 inches.
Wide whitewall tires on sparkling spoke wheels set off classic styling.
Pearl Brilliant White paint with subtle blue graphics blends well with the Boulevard’s classic styling, windscreen, studded leather-texture seats, and matching saddlebags.
The 2023 Suzuki Boulevard C50 turns heads wherever you rumble by. The Boulevard C50 stamps a bold impression on classic cruiser styling that includes a kicked-out fork, traditional valance-style fenders, and a staggered, chromed, dual exhaust system.
The C50’s fuel-injected, fifty cubic-inch, V-twin engine delivers loads of torque and is engineered for reliability and presence that other cruisers will wish they had. On city streets or the open highway, the C50’s spacious riding position and smooth suspension provide all-day cruising comfort, while its rear suspension delivers the appearance of a classic hardtail.
Key Features:
Bold heritage cruiser styling.
A fifty cubic-inch (805cc), fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, 45-degree V-twin engine.
Smooth-shifting 5-speed transmission with shaft drive.
Buckhorn-style handlebars and a low seat height of 27.6 inches.
Candy Daring Red or Solid Iron Gray paint with understated tank graphics augment the Boulevard’s classic posture.
A 2023-model Suzuki Boulevard C50. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, Inc.
With a comprehensive 12-month unlimited mileage limited warranty and longer coverage periods with other benefits available through Suzuki Extended Protection (SEP), these 2023 Suzukis may be personalized with a wide range of Genuine Suzuki Accessories available at Suzuki dealers. For more information, please visit SuzukiCycles.com.
Note: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION reserves the right to add any improvement to change the design or to discontinue any Suzuki Genuine Accessories at any time without notice. Some Suzuki Genuine Accessories might not be compatible with local standards or statutory requirements. Please check with your local AUTHORIZED SUZUKI DEALER for details at the time of ordering.
*The Traction Control System is not a substitute for the rider’s throttle control. It cannot prevent loss of traction due to excessive speed when the rider enters a turn and/or applies the brakes. Neither can it prevent the front wheel from losing grip.
**Depending on road surface conditions, such as wet, loose, or uneven roads, braking distance for an ABS-equipped vehicle may be longer than for a vehicle not equipped with ABS. ABS cannot prevent wheel skidding caused by braking while cornering. Please drive carefully and do not overly rely on ABS.
The Mayor of Bologna Matteo Lepore (left) and Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali (right) in the Piazza Maggiore in Bologna, Italy. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Campioni in Piazza²: the program of the party that on December 15 will celebrate Ducati’s double World Title in Bologna has been presented
Claudio Domenicali and Matteo Lepore presented the Campioni in Piazza² event, scheduled for 15 December in Bologna
Among the protagonists of the Ducati celebrations are the World Champion riders Francesco Bagnaia and Alvaro Bautista
Numerous artists and personalities will take the stage in Piazza Maggiore: J-Ax, Giuseppe Giacobazzi, Guido Meda, Federico Poggipollini, Luca Ward
Bologna, Italy, 7 December 2022 – Just over one week remains before Campioni in Piazza²: the event in the heart of Bologna, free and open to all enthusiasts, which on 15 December will colour Piazza Maggiore red. It will be a great occasion to relive and celebrate together the unforgettable sporting season that has just ended and the extraordinary victories obtained by Ducati in the MotoGP and World Superbike championships.
The official program of the event was presented during a press conference held in the splendid setting of Palazzo D’Accursio, one of the most beautiful places in Piazza Maggiore as well as the seat of the Municipality of Bologna.
Claudio Domenicali, Ducati CEO and Matteo Lepore, Mayor of Bologna , took part in the conference to illustrate the program of the event and the participation of the territory in the celebrations, which will see Italian names and personalities friends of Ducati and of the city of Bologna on stage.
Claudio Domenicali, Ducati CEO: “After the double victory in the MotoGP and Superbike championships, we could only celebrate in style with an event open to all fans. Campioni in Piazza² will be above all a moment of celebration and sharing. The decision to hold the event in Bologna came very naturally, this is the city where Ducati was born and the link with the local area is a great added value for us. We are sure that all the citizens of Bologna, and beyond, will want to join us in celebrating the goals achieved by a company that has its roots here but is a proud ambassador of Made in Italy in the world.”
Matteo Lepore, Mayor of Bologna: “Celebrating together with Ducati the titles won in MotoGP and World Superbike in Piazza Maggiore is very important for Bologna. Our city will once again be in the spotlight for an event that combines a world-renowned brand with music and entertainment. This is why we want to celebrate together these important milestones achieved by Ducati.”
The party on Thursday 15 December will involve first of all the undisputed stars of the 2022 bike racing season: Francesco Bagnaia and Alvaro Bautista. On stage there will also be the “behind the scenes” figures that fans have come to know live from the Ducati pits: Luigi Dall’Igna, Paolo Ciabatti, Davide Tardozzi and Serafino Foti.
Barbara Pedrotti, journalist, TV presenter and great motorsport enthusiast, will be introducing and interviewing the personalities of the world of Ducati Corse, together with Guido Meda , the unmistakable voice who, race after race, narrated Bagnaia’s success in MotoGP on Italian TV.
The program will not be lacking in moments of entertainment either, with jokes from the Romagnolo and passionate Ducatista Giuseppe Giacobazzi. The actor and voice actor Luca Ward will accompany the participants on a journey through the history of Ducati. The musical entertainment opens with a DJ-set by Fresco, a DJ and record producer known for his collaborations with Italian singer Jovanotti, to then move on to the guitar notes of Bologna native musician Federico Poggipollini. The evening will conclude with a concert by J-Ax; the Italian rapper, who has just announced his participation in the 2023 Sanremo Festival, will make the audience dance to a medley of his most famous songs.
To celebrate this great milestone, Ducati has prepared a surprise for the most passionate Ducatisti, which will be unveiled directly from the stage in Piazza Maggiore.
The event is free and open to all enthusiasts who want to celebrate together with Ducati. The stage entertainment will start at 8.00pm and conclude at approximately 10.30pm. A spectacular fireworks display will bring the show to an end.
For everyone who wants to immerse themselves in the Ducati world, on the day of the party the visits to the Borgo Panigale factory will be intensified, with sessions starting every 15 minutes between 9.15 and 11.30 and between 1.45pm and 4.00pm. To ensure a place for the visit at the desired time, it is recommended to book and purchase the ticket online at https://tickets.ducati.com/. The Ducati Museum will be open as usual from 9.00 to 18.00.
David Anthony (25) leads Corey Alexander (23) and Bryce Prince (74) during the CVMA Stock 1000 Shootout at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. Photo by CaliPhotography.com, courtesy CVMA.
CVMA Racing Round 3 2022/2023 Winter Series
December 3/4 2022
Chuckwalla Valley Raceway
Round 3 of the CVMA 2022/2023 Winter Series kicked off under overcast skies, cool weather and a fast race track. On Friday, a group of five riders graduated from the new racer school and received their CVMA licenses. CVMA changed the schedule for this round. Saturday morning featured two qualifying sessions instead of one practice session and one qualifying session. This gave riders a second shot to set their gird position with a fast lap. The change had the added benefit of saving some time in a busy Saturday race schedule — important during the short winter daylight hours.
On Friday, a group of five riders graduated from the new racer school and received their CVMA license.
During qualifying on Saturday, Owen Williams was the fastest on an Ultra Lightweight bike, turning a 1:54.436 lap time. Justin Bordonaro went quickest on a Lightweight class bike with a 1:52.536. Torin Collins set the Middleweight bike benchmark with a 1:48.738. And, fastest of all, was Corey Alexander with a 1:44.785 lap time on an Open class bike.
Saturday
Quinn Swift broke the lap record in the Formula 40 Ultra Lightweight class with a 1:56.524. Other standouts on Saturday included Williams winning three races riding both Middleweight and Ultra Lightweight bikes. Bordonaro, David “Aussie Dave” Anthony, and Nayden Balladares all won two races each.
Sunday
On Sunday, the premier race of the day started under sunny skies and exceptionally warm weather. In the Stock 1000 Shootout, Anthony got the holeshot followed by Alexander and “The Prince” Bryce Prince. At the start of lap three, Alexander was able to out drive Anthony coming out of the last turn and make a pass for the lead at the end of the front straight entering the first corner. Anthony retook the lead on lap five. The two ran nose-to-tail for the remainder of the race but Alexander was never able to challenge for the lead again. The final result was Anthony for the win, Alexander in second, and Prince in third.
In the Formula Lightweight Twins Shootout, Cody Wyman was first into Turn 17 followed by Bordonaro and Jonathan “Crafty” Glaefke. Unfortunately, the race was red-flagged on the first lap. At the restart, Glaefke got the holeshot but was quickly passed by Wyman. Bordonaro slotted into second. The running order at the end of the first lap was Wyman, Bordonaro, and Glaefke. Bordonaro passed Wyman onto the front straight to make a pass for the lead on lap four. Unfortunately, Bordonaro crashed in Turn 9, a.k.a. “Crash Corner,” a short time later, handing it back to Wyman. The final result was Wyman first followed by Glaefke and then Gio Alvarez. As a consolation, Bordonaro set a new lap record for the class turning a 1:50.662 lap time.
The Formula Ultra Lightweight Shootout started with Quinn Swift getting the holeshot. By the end of the first lap, Kreece Elliott had taken the lead with Williams and Swift following. Williams took the lead on lap two and proceeded to check out. Swift made the pass for second on lap four and that set the finishing order. Williams took the win with Swift in second and Elliott rounding out the podium.
In the Supersport Middleweight Shootout, David Kohlstaedt took the lead at the beginning and was never challenged. Collins, returning to race with CVMA after a long absence, ran a lonely second place the entire race. Behind Collins, a battle for the final spot on the podium raged between Jeff “The Tiger” Tigert and Williams. Tigert ran the first five laps in front of Williams. Toward the end of the fifth lap, Williams made a brave pass for third position entering Turn Three on the brakes. Williams and Tigert ran nose-to-tail for the remainder of the race, but Tigert was unable to find a way past Williams. The final result was Kohlstaedt for the win, Collins second, and Williams third.
The next round will be the weekend of January 21-22, 2023.
CVMA offers two full days of racing every race weekend and also includes Saturday qualifying for grid position in all classes, amateur and expert, as well as a wide variety of classes to choose from.
CVMA offers free reciprocity as a means of encouraging racers from other clubs to come out and compete. CVMA also offers a New Racers School for those starting out in racing on the Friday prior to each race weekend. Log on to www.cvmaracing.com to sign up or for more information.
CVMA. Built for racers by racers and offering the best racing experience around!
Series Sponsors: SoCal Track Days, Apex Assassins, Ryder Gear, and CaliPhotography
NRS Sponsors: Alpinestars, 6D Helmets, Racer Gloves, and Racer’s Edge
*Note: when running the course counter-clockwise the corner numbers are referred to as they are when running clockwise.
Luca Marini (10) had no new components to test, but got down to the business of getting the most from his existing Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati and turned the fastest lap of the day. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Copyright 2022, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By Michael Gougis
Luca Marini set the fastest time at the traditional post-season MotoGP test at Circuito Ricardo Tormo, clicking off a 1:30.032 lap toward the end of a day that saw most of the MotoGP teams trying out new equipment for 2023 in an attempt to prevent a repeat of the Ducati dominance of 2022.
On his Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati GP21, Marini went fastest on the 70th of the 76 laps he turned around the 2.5-mile circuit in Cheste near Valencia, and he was faster than he had gone in qualifying for the race. It was not a complete shock, as the track was well rubbered-in from three days of racing and a full morning of testing, and Marini had no new components to evaluate. The team simply focused on optimizing its racebikes from the previous weekend and gave Marini seat time.
Miguel Oliveira (88) was the fastest of the riders who jumped on a different machine at the Valencia test, finishing the day fourth-fastest on his satellite RNF MotoGP Team Aprilia RS-GP. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Marini was 0.225-second quicker than Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales, who edged Marini’s teammate Marco Bezzecchi by another 0.005-second. Fourth-quickest was Miguel Oliveira, the fastest of those riders who had switched manufacturers for 2023, who put on a soft rear tire and blazed to a 1:30.367 right at the end of his track time.
2020 World Champion Joan Mir (36) and new Moto2 World Champion Augusto Fernandez (37) acclimated to their new machines, the factory Repsol Honda RC213V and the Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing bike. The GASGAS is a rebranded KTM RC16. Photo by Michael Gougis.
The regulations for MotoGP are essentially unchanged for 2023. The biggest change is that front “shape-shifting” hydraulics are banned, although launch-control devices remain legal. And that means little in the way of revolutionary ideas, at least in the machines shown at Valencia. Instead, teams, factories, and riders are refining existing components and configurations, looking for the smallest of improvements.
There were lots of refined components in evidence, as the aero wars continued unabated among all of the factories. Honda, KTM, and Yamaha also were evaluating entirely new and major components in an attempt to address their shortcomings. What they found, however, was not entirely what they were looking for, leaving engineers lots of work to do before the next test in Sepang.
Jorge Martin (89) tested a new fairing lower design (the camouflaged section) for Ducati. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Ducati tested new aero components, including a narrower fairing upper and a smooth, bulged fairing lower that did away with the radical ducting that removes air from the forward lower section of the fairing and displaces it into the centerline of the vehicle below the belly pan. The fairing lower, an interpretation of a design introduced by Aprilia mid-season, was seen first on Johann Zarco’s Prima Pramac satellite machine, but was also tested by 2022 MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia.
With the stunning performance of the GP22 and updated GP21 machines throughout the season, Ducati brought out little else for the first test. But aero has become utterly critical in contemporary MotoGP, and the right design affects not just overall performance but the rider’s ability to operate the machine. Over the race weekend prior to the test, Jorge Martin was asked what had contributed to his recent uptick in form–Martin had just earned his third pole position in a row–and he gave credit to a revised fairing that made the bike easier to turn.
Alex Marquez (73) was only 15th and 0.680 second off the pace on his first day on the Gresini Ducati. But after a season of being battered by Honda’s troubled RC213V, Marquez was all smiles after 73 laps on the Desmosedici. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Ducati absolutely ruled the top speed category during the test. Bagnaia was fastest, his bike reaching 335.4 kph (208.407 mph) in the speed traps at the end of the straight. That’s impressive, given that the turn leading onto the straight is a tight left-hander. Five other Ducati riders–Marini, Bezzecchi, Enea Bastianini, Zarco and Alex Marquez–were tied for second fastest at 332.1 kph (206.357 mph), matched only by Marc Marquez on his Honda RC213V.
Honda had high hopes for a revised chassis, but at the end of the day Repsol Honda Team Manager Alberto Puig and Marquez were less than impressed. Honda had started 2022 with a new chassis aimed at increasing rear grip and acceleration, but it had come at the expense of front-end feel, especially under braking. Despite the new, latest chassis he tried, Marquez said he was still looking for more feel at the end of the braking zone–the exact same thing he said at the post-season test in Valencia in 2019. “We expected a bigger step,” Puig said.
Marc Marquez tested new aero packages and swingarms on his Repsol Honda RC213V. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Honda engineers threw a wide range of aero components onto the brand’s racebikes, with rear stabilization fins, lower aero ducting and revised front wings in an array of configurations for Marquez, new recruits Joan Mir and Valencia race winner Alex Rins and Takaaki Nakagami, retained by LCR Honda for 2023.
Honda immediately put new recruit Alex Rins (42) to work, having him test new aero pieces aboard his LCR Honda RC213V. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Marquez finished the test with a best lap at 1:30.676, 13th-quickest, and he turned 50 laps, fewer than any other rider except for Ducati test rider Michele Pirro. And when Marquez was done, he told reporters gathered in the media center that the package that he had ridden was not good enough to him to fight for the title in 2023.
Yamaha’s top-speed woes had convinced the factory to bring in a Formula One engine expert to overhaul its Inline-4, which will be the only engine with that configuration on the grid in 2023. While early tests had proven promising, 2021 MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo was deeply unhappy to find that the development engine delivered no more top speed than his race engine from 2022 had produced.
The Yamaha prototype, complete with new-spec engine, failed to perform to expectations, leaving 2021 MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo frustrated. Photo by Michael Gougis.
During his post-test media interview, Quartararo kept staring over the heads of journalists at a monitor hanging from the ceiling that showed top speeds from the day on the track, pointing out that his Yamaha was only 12th-fastest down the straight, and that teammate Franco Morbidelli’s machine was even slower. It was not a huge gap to the front of the pack — the difference was only 8 kph to Bagnaia — but in MotoGP today, differences in qualifying and final positions are measured in fractions of a second, and the lack of speed and acceleration has made it very difficult for the Yamaha riders to overtake or protect their positions from other riders, especially those on the rapid Ducatis. Quartararo was fastest of the Yamaha riders in ninth, his fastest lap a 1:30.578, 0.546-second off the top spot.
Yamaha also brought out a new chassis for Quartararo and Morbidelli, as well as a range of new side fairing elements and rear stabilization fins. While Morbidelli liked the new chassis, Quartararo said it felt different but made no real impact on lap times, which was his assessment of the new aero components as well.
KTM introduced its module concept of testing — an attempt to allow engineers to change individual components without impacting the way other elements of the bike behaved. It makes sense: One of the first rules of testing is to change only one thing at a time. But it was clear that KTM’s chassis development, a little like that of Honda, seemed to be stuck in a zero-sum equation.
New KTM factory rider Jack Miller (43) leads new LCR Honda rider Alex Rins (42) as they adapted to their new machines in Valencia. Miller finished the day 17th, Rins 20th. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Brad Binder said over the weekend that he had been asking all season for a chassis that gave him more rear grip, and his racebike on Sunday gave him exactly that. But that improvement came at the expense of front-end stability, and he had to wait until the fuel load went down before he could start charging toward the front — a charge that came up just short of a win. Binder tried a new chassis on Tuesday, praised the feel at the front again and said the grip at the rear was lacking again.
Pol Espargaro at speed on a GASGAS/KTM MotoGP prototype. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Binder was the quickest on a KTM, with a 1:30.496 slotting him into seventh place, with new factory teammate Jack Miller 17th with a 1:30.787. Pol Espargaro and Moto2 World Champion Augusto Fernandez took their new GASGAS Tech3 machines — rebranded KTM RC16s — to 16th and 22nd, respectively.
Aprilia’s main focus was on its new signing — the RNF MotoGP team — which wheeled its Yamaha YZR-M1s out of the garage on Sunday and rolled in a pair of the new Aprilia RS-GP racebikes that it will use for 2023. The team, which will field Raul Fernandez alongside Oliveira, will start with the same machinery spec that factory riders Aleix Espargaro and Vinales used at the end of 2022.
Not only was Oliveira quick and comfortable, but Vinales was second and Espargaro fifth — encouraging speed for a manufacturer that, after running at the front of the field for most of 2022, absolutely imploded over the last five races of the season.
Eric Granado (right) with MIE Racing Honda Team owner Midori Moriwaki (left). Photo courtesy MIE Racing Honda Team.
MIE Racing Honda Team announces Eric Granado for the 2023 WorldSBK season
The MIE Racing Honda Team is pleased to announce that it has signed Eric Granado as its rider for the 2023 Superbike World Championship aboard the CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE.
26-year old Granado has recently concluded his best ever season in the MotoE World Championship, finishing as series runner-up after amassing five wins and fighting for the title until the last race in San Marino. To date, his remarkable racing achievements include four titles in the Brazilian SBK Championship as well as world championship seasons in Moto2 (2012), Moto3 (2013, 2014) and the FIM CEV Repsol series, where he won the Moto2 European Championship title in 2017.
Next year the talented Brazilian will fight on two fronts, taking part in both the MotoE World Championship and the Superbike World Championship.
The MIE Honda Racing Team bids farewell to Leandro “Tati” Mercado, thanking him for all his efforts and wishing him the best for his future endeavors.
Midori Moriwaki
“I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Eric to the MIE Racing Honda Team. We had the chance to work with Eric when he joined the team for the final round of the 2020 WorldSBK championship season in Estoril. He finished top 15 in race 1 and close to the points zone in race 2 which was really impressive. His talent, speed, professionalism, and not least his sunny attitude are key values for me, and I think he will be a perfect fit for the MIE Racing Honda Team structure. A structure that will also be strengthened in terms of its technical and managerial staff in order to ensure continual growth and improvement. I also want to heartily thank Tati for two amazing years together, for his hard work and total commitment to the team. We wish him all the best for his future.”
Eric Granado
“I am very happy to take on my first WorldSBK season in 2023. Firstly, I would like to thank Midori, Honda and all the sponsors for giving me this opportunity. It has long been my goal to make it to World Superbike. I have won four Brazilian Superbike championships and raced in the Spanish SBK Championship over the last two seasons. It’s a category I know, although the world championship operates at a much higher level obviously. I competed with the MIE Racing Honda Team in 2020, at the Portuguese round, and I really enjoyed it. I liked seeing how everyone worked and Midori made me feel really welcome in the team. We talked about trying to work together and now we will do just that. I think it’s a great opportunity for me and my career, and I’m very confident that we will have a competitive bike and can work together with Honda to improve the machine. It will be a real challenge, battling with fast, world-level riders but I will try to learn a lot from them and do my best to achieve solid results each weekend so that I can arrive at the end of the season knowing I have done a good job. I hope the Brazilian fans will support me; it has been so many years since a Brazilian rider raced in the world championship and I hope to represent my country at its best. I want to thank everyone for their support, and now I can’t wait to get on my Honda and start working.”
More, from another press release issued by MIE Racing Honda Team:
The MIE Racing Honda Team reconfirms Hafizh Syahrin to complete its 2023 line-up
Hafizh Syahrin (left) with MIE Racing Honda Team owner Midori Moriwaki (right). Photo courtesy MIE Racing Honda Team.
After announcing the signing of Brazilian rider Eric Granado, the MIE Racing Honda Team is pleased to confirm that it has extended its agreement with Malaysian rider Hafizh Syahrin.
The 2022 season saw Syahrin debut with the team, and in the WorldSBK category. The 28-year old finished in the points in four races and ended the season on the up in terms of both his performance and consistency.
The MIE Racing Honda Team thus completes its line-up for the 2023 Superbike World Championship season with two talented and fast riders who are both more than ready for action when the season kicks off in Australia on February 24-26.
“I am extremely pleased to announce the contract extension with Hafizh who made his debut with us in World Superbike and has grown steadily throughout the season”, said team owner Midori Moriwaki. “I think that he and Eric (Granado) will form a strong and competitive pairing and will help us to both develop our project with Honda in the category and promote the WorldSBK Championship and motorcycling in South America and Asia, two extremely strategic regions for our sport.”
“I’m very happy to stay with the MIE Racing Honda Team again next season”, Hafizh Syahrin added. “I know that Midori (Moriwaki) is putting together a stronger package for 2023 while I will focus on giving all that I can, building on last year’s experience and aiming to finish in the points at every race. My primary target is to be more competitive and I’m ready to work hard to achieve that.”
Alex Arango (103) leads Eric Wood (5), and Gabriel DaSilva (4) at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Photo by Lisa Theobald, courtesy ASRA/CCS.
ASRA/CCS Season Finale Kicks off New Ownership
ASRA/CCS Florida Region
Homestead-Miami Speedway
December 3-4, 2022
by Lisa Theobald
The ASRA/CCS 2022 Season Finale event took place at Homestead-Miami Speedway as the premier race event for the organization’s new owners. Much of the existing schedule remained intact with a few adjustments, including the addition of “Dash For Cash” races paying down to fifth place. New to the series, an online registration process was implemented for the final round and included paperless tech and contingency forms. Live, online grid, timing, and results features were added to the www.asra.com website and an app for mobile devices is expected to be in place for the start of the 2023 season.
The weekend schedule started with perfect weather and three practice groups on track Saturday morning until lunch break, with three 25-minute GT races kicking off the afternoon schedule of racing, followed by five seven-lap sprint races. The Sunday schedule also included several rounds of practice until the lunch break with the remaining thirteen seven-lap sprint races with the cash-paying GP classes concluding the action-packed weekend.
Alex Arango was the winningest racer of the weekend with six first-place finishes, which included wins in both the Unlimited GP and 300 GP Dash for Cash classes. Arango was an early leader in all of his races during the event and the hotly contested Unlimited GP was no exception. Arango led the first lap of the race with Eric Wood and Gabriel DaSilva in hot pursuit. The top three each held down the front spot as they continued to battle for the checkered flag for all seven laps of the race. DaSilva’s lead was thwarted by a false neutral and Arango was able to reclaim the front spot to take the final victory of the day with the top three finishing the race in the same order as lap one.
The event brought all three of the Silva brothers together to compete and even finish the GTU with all three on the podium. Lucas Silva finished first with Fernando Silva second, and Bruno Silva in third. Lucas Silva took home the cash for this class, and Edward Sulliva was the fourth Dash for Cash winner with his first-place finish in the Lightweight GP race.
The newly reformed ASRA/CCS will move forward with additional changes being implemented off season to include new classes that reflect FIM class structures, fully digital race registration, mobile check-in and contingency reporting, social media support for real-time access to grids, results, and other information. The first race of the 2023 season is scheduled to take place at Carolina Motorsports Park April 15-16th, 2023 for the Atlantic, Florida, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast regions, and will include the AMA Sanctioned ASRA Team Challenge Series Presented by Michelin Tires.
Full race results are available online at: https://www.asraracing.com/results/. Additional information about the series including the 2023 season schedule, press releases, series updates, and rider profiles will be available on the new website at: www.asraracing.com.
JD Beach (95) seen flying to victory at the Peoria TT in 2022. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Estenson Racing Announces 2023 American Flat Track Program
Young up-and-comer Tom Drane joins JD Beach, Dallas Daniels, and Trevor Brunner to contend for top honors in the Progressive American Flat Track series
MARIETTA, Ga. – December 5, 2022 – Estenson Racing is happy to announce their continued partnership with Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS) and a talented four-rider lineup for the 2023 Progressive American Flat Track season. Multi-time road race champion JD Beach and two-time AFT Singles Champion Dallas Daniels return to fight for the title in the Mission SuperTwins Championship. Also returning with the team next year is Trevor Brunner who will be joined by new signee Tom Drane for a two-pronged threat in the AFT Singles class.
Beach enters his fifth season with Estenson Racing and looks to build on their breakthrough 2022 season with the Yamaha MT-07. The Owensboro rider was a championship contender, taking home four wins and a total of eight podiums. Unfortunately, he was injured in the final race of the season but still managed a fourth-place finish in the points standings. Beach also continued to be a force to be reckoned with on the TT tracks, sweeping both TTs this year to bring his career total to six TT wins since his first premier class victory during his debut season with the team in 2019.
On the heels of a stellar rookie season in the premier class, Daniels looks to build on his standout performance in 2022. The 2020 and 2021 AFT Singles Champion hit the ground running and was also a title contender in the competitive Mission SuperTwins Championship. He scored a pair of wins on the Mile tracks and stood on the podium seven times to finish third in the points standings. With a year under his belt, the 18-year-old looks to come out swinging in what will also be his fifth year with the Estenson Racing team.
Brunner returns in 2023 and looks to build on his debut season with the team and the YZ450F. The Indiana rider made progress throughout the year and hit his stride in the second half of the season, scoring a pair of wins and six podiums to earn fourth in the highly competitive AFT Singles Championship.
Drane joins the team next year for his first full season in American Flat Track. The 16-year-old Australian is one of the sport’s top up-and-coming riders, making an impressive AFT Singles debut last year at the Lima Half-Mile with a win in the dash for cash and a runner-up finish in the Main Event. He also won the dash at the Springfield Mile before the rest of the event’s program was rained out, and has multiple amateur dirt track titles to his resume in both the U.S. and Australia.
In addition to Yamaha Racing, the team would also like to thank its continued support from Monster Energy, WPS, FLY, Yamalube, ZO CBD, VortexEX, Motion Pro, and Hinson.
Jim Roach – Yamaha Racing Department Manager for YMUS
“Yamaha Racing is excited to continue our support of Estenson Racing in both the American Flat Track SuperTwins and AFT Singles classes. Estenson Racing has won multiple titles in the Singles class, and 2022 was filled with race wins and podiums in the SuperTwins class. Through the continued hard work and development by Estenson Racing, they have transformed their team into a championship contender in both the SuperTwins and Singles classes. We look forward to the start of the racing season.”
Tommy Hayden – Estenson Racing Team Manager
“I am really excited to announce our renewal with Yamaha and would like to thank them for their continued support, belief in our program, and stepping up for us for in 2023. I am very proud of our riders and the entire crew for the progress we made this year but we know there are many areas we are capable of improving in and that is what we are pushing towards this off-season.
“It is also very exciting for us to be adding Tom to our team for 2023 and to be able to watch his progress as a full-time AFT rider. To have JD, Dallas and Trevor all returning and the addition of Tom, I am confident that we have all the talent we need to reach our goals next season.”
JD Beach. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
JD Beach – Estenson Racing Mission SuperTwins
“After the season we had in 2022, I’m really excited to be back with the team. Going into next season we will be on the same bike and I’ll have the same crew. This will be the first time since I joined the team that we will have the same combo going into the next season. The progress we made this year was what we’ve been working so hard for, so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do next season with some groundwork already made. I’ve got some big goals for this new season. Ending last year with a broken ankle wasn’t ideal so I’m looking forward to putting in the work this winter and coming out in March stronger than ever.”
Dallas Daniels (center). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Dallas Daniels – Estenson Racing Mission SuperTwins
“I’m very excited for the 2023 season. My rookie year in the SuperTwins class was awesome. I was able to learn so much about the bikes, the tracks, and the competition, so I’m going to carry that knowledge into 2023 and do the best I can. I’m just extremely grateful for this opportunity that Tim, Tommy, and the whole Estenson Racing team have given me to race at the premier level of American Flat Track.”
Trevor Brunner. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Trevor Brunner – Estenson Racing AFT Singles
“I’m really looking forward to the 2023 season with Estenson Racing. It was a tough year for me, but we were able to come together as a team by the end of this season and I’m confident that we can keep building and carrying that momentum through the new year. It’s also going to be awesome to have another teammate on the 450 side of the team to bounce ideas off of throughout the day.”
Tom Drane. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Tom Drane – Estenson Racing AFT Singles
“I am so excited to be joining the Estenson Yamaha racing team in 2023. It has been a dream of mine to be able to race professionally since starting my career and I am so grateful to be given such an opportunity at 16 years old. I feel like I can be competitive with such a high-level team behind me and I’m looking forward to what the year brings.“
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC) with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida), Kracor Systems (Wisconsin) and Siren Marine, Inc. (Rhode Island), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats (Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana).
DYNAVOLT TRIUMPH WELCOME HARRY TRUELOVE FOR WORLD SUPERSPORT 2023
Dynavolt Triumph are pleased to confirm that Harry Truelove will join the team for the 2023 FIM Supersport World Championship.
The 26-year-old British rider makes the step up to the world stage after a successful career in British Supersport where he ended the 2022 season on a high with third overall in the championship, securing ten podiums including a win across the season with Appleyard Macadam. Lincolnshire based Truelove made his WSS debut the same year as a wild-card at Donington Park and now joins the enormously experienced Dynavolt Triumph for a full-time campaign in the world championship.
Harry Truelove: “I am thrilled to be joining the Dynavolt Triumph team. Competing in the World Supersport championship has always been my dream and I am excited to make this dream a reality with Triumph. I want to thank Simon for trusting in me and giving me this incredible opportunity and all of my family for always cheering me on and supporting me all the way. I’m looking forward to this new challenge as I channel my efforts to prepare for the season ahead. I have full faith in myself and the team that we can achieve some great results together over the coming season.”
Dynavolt Triumph Team Manager Simon Buckmaster: “We’d like to welcome Harry to the team. I’ve watched him for a couple of years and last year of course we competed against him in the British championship. We had discussions last year with Harry and his family about riding for us and this year we spoke again. It’s good for us as a British team, with a British bike to have a British rider. Also, to bring this rider up from BSS I see as a good thing for British motorcycle sport that young riders see the progression from national championship to world championship. It’s good in a patriotic way for Britain. We have discussed it, we know it’s a big step up and there’s some hard work in front of him but we have some good guys around us, we’re a close-knit team, there’s almost a family atmosphere and we will create that environment for Harry to grow and be successful in World Supersport. Looking forward to testing and the start of the season.”
2022 FIM MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia at the FIM Awards gala. Photo by Goodshoot, courtesy Dorna.
FIM Awards: 2022 World Champions rewarded in Rimini
The gala returns to toast the biggest winners on two wheels in 2022
Sunday, 04 December 2022
The FIM Awards took place at the Palacongressi Rimini – IEG Expo in 2022, gathering Champions from across different motorcycle disciplines to celebrate their achievements this season.
2022 FIM MotoGP™ World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) celebrated his first premier class title as he took to the stage, receiving his FIM medal after an incredible season.
Bagnaia was joined by 2022 Moto2™ World Champion Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as he ends the year on a high note ahead of a new adventure in MotoGP™ next season, and 2022 Moto3™ World Champion Izan Guevara (GASGAS Aspar Team) similarly signed off from the season in style before he moves into the intermediate class.
(From left) Moto2 World Champion Augusto Fernandez, MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia, and Moto3 World Champion Izan Guevara. Photo by Goodshoot, courtesy Dorna.
Others present included 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Champion Alvaro Bautista as he celebrated his WorldSBK title and represented another Ducati success, as well as 2022 Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™ Champion Jose Antonio Rueda. Rueda made history as the first rider to take that crown and win the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2022, and he’ll move into the Moto3™ World Championship next year.
The gala brings the curtain down on the final event on the calendar, with winter break underway and the countdown to the Shakedown Test very much on. MotoGP™ will be back in action in early February, so save the pre-season dates and get ready to enjoy another incredible season of competition. Who will return to the gala in 2022? We’ll start to find out soon!
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:
2022 Champions Bautista, Aegerter and Díaz take the stage in Rimini for the FIM Awards
2022 Superbike World Champion Alvaro Bautista. Photo by Goodshoot, courtesy Dorna.
Just a couple of weeks after the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship curtain closer in Australia, the newly crowned riders of all three classes were reunited in Rimini, Italy, for the FIM Awards ceremony.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed Ducati’s first Riders’ Championship since 2011, Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) took his second consecutive title in WorldSSP and Alvaro Diaz (Arco Motor University Team) became the sixth different rider to take the WorldSSP300 title after a record-breaking campaign.
All three gathered on Saturday night at the Palacongressi Rimini – IEG Expo in Rimini, where the newly re-elected FIM President Jorge Viegas acknowledged their achievements in 2022 alongside the other FIM World Champions.
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www.roadracingworld.com
November 10, 2026
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Disability profiles supported in our website
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Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
